Retrieval device

ABSTRACT

A device for grasping and retrieving spheroidal objects, including sport balls, and particularly suited for golf balls. A fork extending from an elongate shaft, has at least three resilient tines arranged to resiliently and circumferentially grasp an outer surface of the spheroidal object. Alternative modification to the fork incorporates provision for carriage of a plurality of objects within the device, without compromising the ability of the device to grasp additional objects.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for grasping and retrieving spherical objects. More particularity, the invention relates to a device for grasping and retrieving sport balls from the surface of the ground without the need to stoop or bend over to grasp the ball. With even greater particularity the invention relates to a device for retrieving a golf ball, which may be lying on or embedded in deep turf or grass.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The sport of golf is replete with various inventions for retrieving golf balls. Most golf ball retrieval devices are intended for retrieving an errant ball that may lie in a water hazard, or similar location, where it may be inadvisable or impractical for the golfer to readily retrieve the ball. Typically, retrieval devices of this sort have a basket or scoop located at the end of a telescoping shaft, so that the golfer may reach the inaccessible ball and urge it into the scoop for retrieval from the hazard. Devices of this sort are usually intended to recover a single ball at a time. Inasmuch as these devices are normally intended for retrieval of balls from water hazard, they are generally not suitable for retrieval of balls lying in turf. Given their utility on the golf course, such devices are usually capable of being carried in a golf bag with the golfer's clubs.

Other types of golf ball retrievers are intended to pick up a large number of balls, such as during a practice session or on a driving range. Tractor drawn or driven ball retrievers are typically encountered on driving ranges where large numbers of golfers will practice and the volume of balls necessitates such larger equipment. In these cases, the balls are retrieved from the ground and are deposited in one or more large baskets or hoppers for subsequent distribution and reuse on the practice range.

For the individual golfer, there are also retrieval devices that are readily carried which are capable of retrieving and holding a large number of golf balls, such as would be utilized during a practice session. These retrievers typically have a tube extending from a bag that may be conveniently carried by the golfer, such as being suspended by a shoulder strap or a carrying handle. With such retrieval devices, the end of the tube is placed over the ball and the tube will have a means of capturing the ball within the tube so as to prevent the ball from falling back out of the tube. Successive balls are picked up and ultimately disposed into the bag after a sufficient number of balls have been retrieved. A perceived shortcoming of such tube retrievers, is that they have difficulty in retrieving balls that may be embedded in the ground or deep turf. In the latter instance, grass may inadvertently get impinged between the ball and the tube such that upon lifting the retrieval device, the ball may be pulled out of the tube as the grasses exert forces against the ball. Even though these devices may be readily carried by a golfer, their size precludes them from being carried by a golfer on a golf course.

In addition to the aforementioned retrieval devices, there is a need for a device that would permit a golfer to retrieve a single, or a limited number of balls that may otherwise be readily accessible. For example, golfers with a back condition that may limit their ability to bend over and retrieve a ball lying on the turf, or even a ball that they have successfully holed. Similarly, for golfers riding in carts, it may be desirable to be able to retrieve a ball from the ground, while remaining seated in the cart, particularly for balls that may be embedded or lying in deep turf.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the foregoing needs and other objects of the invention by providing an apparatus for grasping spheroidal objects, such as sport balls, and which is particularly suited for grasping and retrieving golf balls. The device includes an elongate shaft having a hand grip at a first end and a fork extending from a second end. The fork has at least three resilient tines to circumferentially and resiliently grasp an outer surface of the object.

Each tine has a base end proximal to the shaft and a distal end located away from the shaft. The tines are aligned around a common axis, each having an inwardly facing gripping surface facing generally towards the common axis. Preferably, the gripping surfaces are offset from the common axis by an distance RI that is slightly less than the radius of the object or ball that the device is intended to grasp and retrieve. The distal ends and griping surfaces comprise a grasping end of the fork.

The arrangement and disposition of the resilient tines permits the grasping end of the fork to circumferentially grasp the object about its effective circumference. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tines are disposed about the common axis at equal angles and at equal distances RI. Suitable contemplated alternative arrangements of the tines may be described where a circle inscribed by the distal ends of the tines has a circumference that is slightly less than the effective circumference of the object intended to be grasped, and would likewise provide the desired circumferential grasping.

In an additional embodiment of the invention, the fork may also be formed with a storage sleeve, capable of retaining one or more additional objects or balls, without interfering with or compromising the functioning of the grasping end. The tines are modified along the length of the storage sleeve portion so that an intermediate portion of the tine is offset by a distance R2, that is at least as large as the radius of the object or ball to be grasped. Embodiments contemplated for the storage sleeve would include those where the circumference of a circle inscribed by the intermediate portions of tines is at least as large as the circumference of the object intended to be grasped.

The length of the shaft is selected so that the user may utilize the fork to grasp an object from the ground without the need to bend over. The device has particular utility for grasping sport balls, including golf balls. By selecting a grip and/or shaft combination corresponding to the intended sport ball, the grip and/or shaft combination provides an indicia of the sport ball for which the device is intended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a frontal elevation view of a ball retriever according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention demonstrated with a golf ball;

FIG. 2 depicts a bottom end view of a single ball retriever showing a preferred disposition of tines about a common axis;

FIG. 3 depicts a frontal elevation view of a multiple ball retriever having a storage sleeve demonstrated with a plurality of golf balls; and

FIG. 4 depicts a cross sectional view along line B of FIG. 3, showing a ball retained in the storage sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device 10 of the present invention is particularly adapted for grasping and retrieving golf balls. However, it may be readily adapted and suited for grasping and retrieving a variety sport balls, or other spheroidal objects. The device 10 includes an elongate shaft 11, having a handle or grip 12 at its first end, and a fork 13 having at least three resilient tines or fingers 14 extending from a second end of elongate shaft 11. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, shaft 11 may simply be made from a golf club shaft 11 having a grip 12 typical for a golf club. This arrangement would make the device 10 readily adapted to use as a golf ball retrieval device since it may be easily and conveniently carried in a golf bag along with a golfer's clubs. Moreover, the length of shaft 11 would be sufficient to permit grasping and retrieval of a golf ball 30 with the device without the need for the golfer to bend over. The length would and be such as to also allow a seated golf cart occupant to grasp a ball 30 without the need to exit the cart. Such arrangement would also provide indicia for identifying the sport or sport ball 30 for which the device 10 is designed, as the user would recognize the characteristic golf grip and shaft and associate the device with that sport.

In a first exemplary embodiment, depicted in FIG. 1, fingers or tines 14 are arranged around a common axis A, defining the orientation of fork 13. Tines 14 have a base end 15 and a distal end 16, such that distal ends 16 are radially offset from axis A at a distance R1, corresponding to a radius of the object or ball 30 for which the device 10 is intended to retrieve. Distance R1 is selected such that an inwardly facing gripping surface 17 of distal ends 16 are offset from axis A by a distance that is slightly smaller than the radius of object 30. Preferably, distal ends 16 are also generally aligned in parallel arrangement about axis A and disposed thereabout at predetermined angles relative to each other, such that the distance between successive distal ends 16 is less than the diameter of object 30. Preferably, axis A is aligned coaxial with a longitudinal axis of shaft 11. Distal ends 16 should also have a length sufficient to receive a substantial portion of at least one ball 30 between gripping surfaces 17. The disposition and arrangement of distal ends 16 as thus described define a grasping end 18 of fork 14.

In the preferred exemplary embodiments, distal ends 16 are depicted as disposed about axis A at the same angle and the same radius R1 to define grasping end 18. As may be seen, a circle inscribed by the points corresponding to distal ends 16, will have a circumference sufficiently smaller than that of the spheroidal object 30 the device is intended to grasp. As such, that the gripping surfaces 17 will resiliently engage the outer surface 31 of the object 30 at or substantially close to its meridian. It will be appreciated, that the angular displacement and/or radial offset R1 for each tine 14 and its associated distal end 16 may be varied and still accomplish the objects of the invention. Namely, that the circumference of a circle inscribed by distal ends 16 be slightly less than the effective circumference of the spheroidal object 30 intended to be grasped.

As may be appreciated grasping end 18 is configured such that ball 30 is circumferentially grasped by resilient engagement of tines 14 with an outer surface 31 of ball 30. In use, the device 10 is grasped by handle 12 and fork 13 is directed towards ball 30. Upon contact of ball 30 by tines 14, the resilience of tines 14 in combination with the curvature of the outer surface 31 and any rolling action of ball 30 will substantially align ball 30 with axis A. With continued urging of fork 13 against surface 31, the ball 30 will quickly be engaged by each of gripping surfaces 17. Once a sufficient portion of ball 30 is received in grasping end 18, the resilient engagement of tines 14 against outer surface 31 will effectively retain ball 30 within grasping end 18.

It may further be appreciated, that device 10 is particularly adapted to retrieve a ball 30 that may be embedded in the ground or in deep turf. The use of the device is essentially as described in the preceding paragraph. Where the ball 30 may be embedded in the ground, contact of the tines 14 with the outer surface 31 of the ball 30 will substantially align ball 30 with axis A. However, since the ball 30 will not roll, the length of the device will provide sufficient leverage such that, provided the grip 12 is not held too tightly, grasping end 18 will be guided over the ball 30 by deflection of the tines 14 against the outer surface of the ball 30. Tines 14 may be urged into the ground surrounding ball 30 where gripping surfaces 17 will engage outer surface 31, permitting ball 30 to be retrieved when the device 10 is retracted, provided that the ball 30 is not too deeply embedded. If too deeply embedded, the device 10 may then be manipulated around the ball 30 to loosen the ground surface, or alternatively, to pry the ball 30 from its embedded condition. In the case where ball 30 is lying in deep turf, the disposition of tines 14 allow them easily to push through the deep grasses and still reach and grasp ball 30. Finally, it should be noted that the circumferential grasping of the device 10, is particularly suited to retrieval of a golf ball 30 that the golfer has successfully holed.

In a second exemplary embodiment, depicted in FIGS. 3-4, device 10 further comprises a storage sleeve 19, to retain a plurality of balls 30 while still permitting grasping end 18 to remain operational to grab subsequent balls 30. This aspect of the invention is particularly useful where a golfer, after locating his or her ball 30 in some deep turf, discovers a subsequent ball 30 or balls that may have been lost or abandoned by another golfer. The subsequent ball 30 may be grasped and retrieved without the need to remove a preceding ball from the device 10. Along the length of storage sleeve 19, tines 14 have an intermediate portion 20 that is radially offset from axis A at a distance R2. In this instance R2 is sufficiently greater than R1, such that ball 30 may be retained within storage sleeve 19 without distending tines 14 so as to prevent gripping surfaces 17 from grasping a subsequent ball 30. As with grasping end 18, storage sleeve 19 is defined by the preceding description of the arrangement and disposition of tine intermediate portions 20. As will be appreciated, a circle inscribed by intermediate portions 20, should have a circumference at least as large as the effective circumference of the intended object 30. The length of intermediate portions 20 may be varied according to the number of objects 30 to be stored within storage sleeve 19.

While certain exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail, by way of illustration and for clarity of understanding, a number of modifications, adaptations, and changes will be recognized to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is limited solely by the appended claims. 

1. A device for grasping a selected sport ball comprising: an elongate shaft having a grip at a first end of said shaft and a fork extending from a second end of said shaft, said fork having at least three resilient tines disposed about a common axis, each said tine having a base end, a distal end, and a gripping surface oriented and facing generally towards said common axis; wherein each said gripping surface is offset from said common axis by a first distance that is slightly less than a radius of said ball, and each said distal end has a length sufficient to receive a major portion of said selected sport ball between said gripping surfaces.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein each said tine further comprises an intermediate portion and each said intermediate portion is offset from said common axis by a second distance that is at least as large as said radius of said selected sport ball.
 3. The device of claim 2; wherein each said intermediate portion has a length sufficient to receive at least one said selected sport ball between said intermediate portions.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said common axis is parallel to a longitudinal axis of said shaft.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said common axis is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of said shaft.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said tines are disposed about said common axis at substantially equal angles.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said grip is selected to provide an indicia of said selected sport ball.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said shaft is selected to provide an indicia of said selected sport ball.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein said selected sport ball is a golf ball.
 10. A device comprising: an elongate shaft having a grip at a first end of said shaft and a fork extending from a second end of said shaft; said fork having at least three resilient tines terminating at a grasping end distal from said shaft.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein said fork further comprises a storage sleeve.
 12. The device of claim 10, wherein said fork is adapted to grasp a selected sport ball.
 13. The device of claim 10, wherein said fork extends from said shaft along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of said shaft.
 14. The device of claim 10, wherein said fork extends coaxial with a longitudinal axis of said shaft.
 15. The device of claim 10, wherein said grip is selected to provide an indicia associated with the selected sport ball.
 16. The device of claim 10, wherein said shaft is selected to provide an indicia associated with the selected sport ball.
 17. The device of claim 10, wherein said selected sport ball is a golf ball.
 18. An apparatus for grasping a spheroidal object comprising: an elongate shaft having a first end and a second end, a fork extending from said second end, said fork having at least three resilient tines disposed about a common axis, each said tine having a base end and a distal end, such that a circle inscribed by said distal ends has a circumference that is slightly less than an effective circumference of said spheroidal object, whereby an inner gripping surface of said distal ends circumferentially and resiliently engage an outer surface of said spheroidal object.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each said tine has an intermediate portion disposed about a common axis, such that a circle inscribed by said intermediate portions has a circumference at least as large as an effective circumference of said spheroidal object.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said spheroidal object is a sport ball.
 21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said spheroidal object is a golf ball. 